Folding wheel chair



J1me M, 1946. J. G, RIDE OUT 2,402,085 I FOLDING WHEEL CHAIR FiledAug. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Shegt l INVENTOR. (fa l/n G. Rjdeeul June 11,1946. G, RI T 2,402,085

FOLDING WHEEL CHAIR Filed Aug. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V IN VEN TOR. John G. E i/dean? A T TOQNEY Patented June 11, 1946 FOLDING WHEEL CHAIR John Gordon Rideout, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, as-

signor to Gendron Wheel Company, Perrysburg, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 22, 1944, Serial No. 550,558

9 Claims.

This invention relates to folding chairs, such for example as invalid wheel chairs, and an object is to produce a new and improved foldin chair, which is sturdy and reliable in construction, is easy to fold to a relatively small compacted position and to unfold to position of use, is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, is roomy and comfortable in use, and has the novel features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds and, by way of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a folding wheel chair with the parts in folded or compacted position;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the chair shown in Figure 1, with the parts in folded position;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the chair in unfolded position ready for use;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the chair showing the position of the parts during the folding operation;

Figure 5 is a perspective detailed view showing the furcated crossed brace arms for the seat panels;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the seat panels showing the hinge or pivotal mounting therefor; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the foot rests showing the mounting therefor.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a folding wheel or invalid chair which is provided with a pair of upright side frames A and B which are of similar construction so that detailed description of one is deemed sufficient. As shown, the side frames are formed of metal tubing and as shown, the side frame B is formed with an upwardly extending leg It inclined slightly toward the rear which terminates in a rearwardly inclined hand hold portion ll. At the forward portion of the frame is a vertically inclined front leg l2 which is integrally joined to a horizontal arm rest l3, the arm rest l3 being integral at its rear end with the rear leg 10. Particularly as indicated on Figures 3 and 4, although the arm rest 13 is disposed generally in the plane of the rear leg H), the front leg I2 is offset outwardly a slight distance.

Spaced below the arm rest I3 is an upper tubular member [4 which may be termed sectional, a portion of each end being integral with the front and rear legs I0 and I2 respectively, and an intermediate section [4' being interposed between the rigid end portions. Parallel with the upper rod portion I4 and disposed beneath same is a lower rod portion l5, which likewise may be termed sectional in that the tubes at opposite ends are integral with the legs 10 and [2 respectively and an interposed section I5 is disposed between the end tubular portions. For convenience of description. the tubular portion I4 is termed the upper rod andthe tubular portion I5 is termed the lower rod. Journaled on the rear leg l0 intermediate the rod portions l4 and I5 is a rubber tired wheel IS with which a rim member I! is rigid and affords a hand hold for propulsion of the chair by the occupant.

The seat for the chair is composed of a pair of relatively rigid, substantially rectangular panels [8 and I9, which may be of plywood, metal or similar material. As indicated in Figure 6, the tube I4 is secured along one side of the seat panel l8 by brackets 20 which are welded to the tube and secured to the seat panel by rivets 2|. The ends of the tube I4 abut against the tube sections M and a rod 22 passes through the tube sections l4 and the tube 14, thereby enabling the seat panel l8 to rock or pivot about a horizontal axis. It will be understood that the seat panel I!) is similarly connected to the side frame A. The adjacent sides of the seat panels l8 and H) are connected by a pair of hinges 23. The hinges 23 are arranged on the under side of the seat panels, and, as indicated on Figure 2, they are disposed adjacent the opposite end portions of the seat panels. The hinges are so designed that the panels may be moved to the position shown on Figure 3 in which the top surfaces thereof are flush, the hinges militating against further downward movement. However, the seat panels may be swung upwardly, as shown on Figure 4.

The under side of the seat panels l8 and 19 are connected by brace arms 24 and 25 to the lower rod members I5 on the side frames A and B respectively. The brace arms 24 and 25 are arranged in crossing relation and each of the arms is pivoted to a bracket 26, which is secured to the under side of the respective seat panel intermediate the ends thereof. In the form of the invention illustrated, the brackets are arranged closer to the inner side edges or the sides on which the hinges 23 are mounted, than to the sides which are connected to the side frames.

Slightly beyond the region where the arms 24 and 25 cross each other, the arms are furcated or in the form of a yoke as indicated at 21. The ends of the yoke arms, which are spaced substantially from each other, are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the tube l5 above mentioned and fit rather snugly between the rigid tube sections l5 projecting from the front and rear legs I0 and I2 respectively of the respective side frame. A rod 28 extends through the tube l5 and into the adjacent tube sections thereby to enable rocking or pivotal movement of the brace The front portion of the chair is supported by V casters 30 which are suitably secured to and depend from the tube sections IS. The casters 30 are disposed rearwardly of a downward extension 3| of the front leg l2, the latter terminating slightly above the supporting surface and pivoted on each extension is a foot rest 32 which is in the form of a flat board or plate which when in horizontalposition or position of use, is in alignment with the foot rest on the opposite side frame. A side edge ofthe foot rest plate 32 near one end thereof is fixed to a stamping 33 which is pivoted to the-extension 3| by a pin 34. The stamping 33 has a substantially C-shaped or channel portion 35 which when the foot rest is in horizontal position of use, abuts against the side of the leg extension 3| and provides'a stop to limit further downward movement of the foot rest, thereby positively retaining the foot rest in the desired position. v

' The chair can be readily and conveniently folded or unfolded to position of use by a slight oscillating motion impartedto the handles H in one direction or the other, This is indicated on Figure 4' where it will be noted that the lower part of the side frames A and Bare first rocked toward each other whereupon the upper portions of the sideframesca'n then be rocked toward each other, Conversely, when it is desired to un fold the chair to position of use, the reverse operation is effected. It should be emphasized that it isunnecessary in the operation of the chair to lift up on the central portions of the seat or take any other steps other than imparting the rocking or oscillating movement to the side frames as above indicated.

One particular advantageof this construction is that it obtains a relatively wide seat which adds substantially -to the occupants comfort. Al though the drawings do notshow it, it will be understood that theirelatively rigid seat panels will be upholstered to add to the occupants comfort. a r I .It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be elfected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims,

What-I-claim is: a

1. A folding wheel chaircomprising a pair of laterallyspaced vertically disposed side frames, each side frame having a pair of parallel horizontally. disposed upper and lower rod members, a seat including. a pair of relatively rigid seat panels, hinge means connecting said seat panels, a hinge connection between each seat panel and the adjacent upper rod member, a brace arm pivotally connected respectivelyto the under side of each seat panel and extending diagonally to the lower horizontal rod of the opposite frame member, and pivotal connections between said diagonal arms and the lower rods respectively.

2. A folding chair as claimed in claim 1, in which each brace arm is pivoted to the seat panel intermediate the side edges thereof but closer to said hinge connection thereby to enable the frame members to be moved toward each other and th seat panels swung upwardly,

3. A folding wheel chair comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed side frames, a seat including a pair of relatively rigid seat panels, hinge means connecting said seat panels, a hinge connection between each seat panel and an upper portion of the adjacent side frame, a brace arm pivotally connected respectively to the under side of each seat panel and extending diagonally downward to a lower portion of the opposite frame member, said braces being arranged in crossing relation and the lower end portion of each brace being furcated, and pivotal connections between said diagonal arms and lower portions of the side frames respectively.

4. A folding chair as claimed in claim 1, in which the hinge connection between said seat panels comprises hinge means, connected tothe under side of said panels so that when the chair is in position of use, the seat panels are in alignment, said hinge means being constructed and arranged to hold said seat panel against downward movement beyond position of use.

5. A folding chair comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed side frames, each side frame having a front leg and rear leg and a pair of horizontally disposed upper and lower rod members connecting said legs, a wheel journaled on each rear leg between said rod members, a seat including a pair of relatively rigid .seat panels, a hinge means connecting saidseat panels enabling the adjacent portions to swing upwardly and militating against downward swinging movement beyond a position of substantial alignment, a hinge connection between each seat panel and the adjacent upper rod member, brace arms pivoted respectively to intermediate portions of the under side of said seat panels, said braces extending in crossing relation to the remote lower rod member, a pivotal connection between each brace arm and the respective lower rod members, and caster wheels on the front portion of each side frame.

6. A folding chair as claimed in claim 5, comprising means for mounting each caster Wheel on the forward portion of a lower rod member, a downward extension on each front leg, and a foot rest carried by each extension.

'7. A folding chair as claimed in claim 5, com: prising a downward extension on each front leg, a foot rest on each extension, eachfoot rest including a substantially .Csl 1aped stamping adapted partially toembrace the respective extension to provide a stop. therefor when in position of use, and means pivoting saidstamping to its extension.

8. A folding chair comprising a pair of -laterally' spaced vertically disposed side frames, at seatincluding a pair of relatively rigid hingedly connected seat panels, means for hinging said seat panels respectively to said side frames, a brace arm for each seat panel, means for pivoting one end of each brace to an under side of a seat panel, said braces arranged in crossing relation, andmeans for pivoting the opposite end of each brace to a lower portion of a side frame.

9. A folding chair as claimed in claim 8, in which said last named means comprising furcations on the lower portion of each brace arm, and a tube rigid with the free end of each furcation, and means on each side frame providing pivotal bearing for the respective'tube;

JOHN GORDON RIDEOUT. 

